Shillong, Sept 29: Meghalaya Government has announced an Ex Gratia amount of Rs. 4 Lakhs each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the recent landslides and flash floods due to incessant rains across the State, announced Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in his tweet on Tuesday afternoon.
Government is releasing an Ex Gratia amount of Rs. 4 Lakhs each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the recent landslides & flash floods due to incessant rains across the State. Once again, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) September 29, 2020
In just five days, Meghalaya lost 13 precious lives due heavy and incessant rainfall that triggered landslides and flash floods across the state. Earlier, Mud and landslides buried two persons at the Shillong Police Reserve on Thursday taking the toll in such incidents to six across the State in the last few days. The persons have been identified as S Marak and Chilna Marak.
Flash flood and massive landslide, which occurred in West Khasi Hills on Friday following incessant rainfall has hit the district hard. So far, the flash flood has claimed two lives while one person was missing and left two injured.
Flash flood and massive landslide have caused traffic dislocation over Nongstoin and Mawkyrwat road and the national highway from Nongstoin to Shillong. Six people along with a minor girl travelling to Shillong faced the disaster when their vehicle submerged in the water as the road was inundated with ferocious floodwater due to heavy rainfall.
In the incident, the minor girl, Daphisha Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi, was found dead inside the vehicle and the body of the driver, Kenedy Kharsohnoh, was found in the culvert near the place of mishap. Another person travelling in that vehicle Banri Wahlang was still missing at the time of filing of this report.
In another incident, a major landslide at Lower Lumparing occurred on Friday at around 3.30 am burying a house and some tenants who stayed in the house.The victims have been identified as Firoza Khan (40), Reziya Ahmed (38), Bela Ahmed (40), Imaded Nongrum (60) and Kayam Uddin (42).Two bodies – that of Razia Ahmed and Feroza Khan – were retrieved from the site. In another incident at Mawblei, a 12 year old minor died due to landslide triggered by heavy downpour.
Kyrmen Shylla, Minister in-charge of Revenue & Disaster Management said, in just five days around 51 villages and 1,282 number of people were affected. While six people are still missing, a total number of injured stands at nine, 39 houses were damaged and 78 people were evacuated, while 107 people were shifted to relief camps.
